Tag: #BusBackBetter

Bus Back Better – Take Part On Wed 19th & Thurs 20th Jan 22

In October Dorset Council submitted their Bus Service Improvement Plan on time to the Department for Transport. Since that time they have been working on the next stage – the Enhanced Partnership.

As part of the ongoing process they would like to invite Town and Parish Councils to a stakeholder briefing session to be held via Teams to explain the Enhanced Partnership process, their plans for governance and bus user representation, the work conducted to get them to the stage and the timeline for completing the process by the end of March 2022.

Cllr. Simon Christopher did report on the Enhanced Partnership Plan but made no mention of this invitation for you to be heard.  You are invited to attend either of the sessions being held on Wednesday 19 January at 10am and Thursday 20 January at 2pm. 

To attend either briefing session, you need to have Microsoft Teams installed.  Microsoft Teams is free – you can download it HERE. Please then click on the appropriate button below.

  • Wednesday at 10am – click HERE.
  • Thursday at 2pm – click HERE.

Comments, suggestions, and ideas can also be emailed to busbackbetter@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk.

The Bus Service Improvement Plan will be further developed and updated annually.

#Broadwindsor,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Drimpton,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Dorset,#WestDorset,#Beaminster,#Dorset,#BusService,#DorsetCouncil,#UseYourVoice,#BusBackBetter,#CllrSimonChristopher,#BeInformed,#Bridport,#Yeovil,#SocialDistancing,#BeKind,#BeSafe,#StaySafe

First Bus 6/6B Timetables For Winter

It would appear that First Bus have takem some of WATAG’s suggestions on board:

As well as the 16.35 from Yeovil to Bridport now serving Yeovil College at 16.45, tying in with the end of classes and meaning students can get home, there will be a Sunday service again – between Weymouth, Bridport and Lyme Regis.
The last bus from Dorchester has been rescheduled to meet the 18.47 train arrival from London. (bus re-timed from 18.40 to 18.55).

Also from 3rd October – Services X51 and X53 to/from Weymouth – Dorchester – Bridport – West Bay – Lyme Regis – Axminster timetables can be found HERE.

Thank you to Parish Cllr. Jacqui Sewell for the information.

#Broadwindsor,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Drimpton,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Dorset,#WestDorset,#Somerset,#Beaminster,#Dorset,#BusService,#FirstBus,#WATAG,#BusBackBetter,#Bridport,#Yeovil,#BusTimetable,#BeSafe,#StaySafe

Broadwindsor Parish Group Council Meeting – Monday, 13th September 2021

A face-to-face meeting of the Parish Council will be held at 7.30 pm on Monday 13 September 2021 at Blackdown Village Hall.  SOCIAL DISTANCING MEASURES WILL BE IN PLACE. All are welcome to attend.

The full agenda is available to download HERE. Minutes of previous Group Parish Council meetings can be found online HERE.

Lots for the councillors to address this month, including six Planning Applications.

They begin by disclosures of personal and prejudicial interests from Councillors and employees on matters to be considered at the Meeting together with any dispensations and any updates to the Register of Interests.

After any matters arising, parish residents are invited to give their views and ask questions of the Parish Council on issues on this Agenda.

Reports include the Election – Broadwindsor Group Parish Council Vacancy, Burstock Ward.

A variety of issues received on Correspondance & Notices:

a. Broadwindsor Group Parish Community Land Trust, Request for Grant of £600.00 towards administrative costs.
b. Broadwindsor Resident, Maintenance of Back Lane.
c. Broadwindsor Resident, Comrades Hall Entrance/Exit Safety Concerns.
d. DAPTC, Notice of Annual General Meeting 13 November 2021.
e. Beaminster Museum, Gardens and Allotments Exhibition.

Item 8. Accounts include To approve payment of £5410.00 for Small Engine Services (Ariens Apex 52 Model 991315 Mower).

Item 9. Planning Applications Received for consideration this month are:
(Please click on the Planning Application Number for further details.)

Item 11 on the agenda will be an update on the Community Pub proposal.
Item 17 considers the request for a beehive on the Allotments.
Item 18 – the highways addresses the following:

a. Report from the Footpaths Officer, Cllr. Dorothy Rowe.
b. Verge Management in the Grouped Parish Area.
c. Back Lane, Broadwindsor.
d. Common Water Lane Update.
e. Fly Tipping on Hursey Common.
f. Fingerpost Maintenance Tender Update.
g. Adopted Telephone Kiosks Update.
h. Old Shop, Broadwindsor.
i. Road Surface in Littlewindsor.

Item 21 an invitation for Residents to give their views and ask questions of the Parish Council on any outstanding
issues on this Agenda or raise issues for future consideration.

After agreeing the date and venue of the next meeting, the meeting will then close.

The press and public are invited to attend.  Under the Openess of Local Government Bodies Regulations 2014, members of the public may now film, photograph and make audio recordings of the proceedings of the formal Council meeting, though not, under current legislation, of the Public Participation session, as this is not part of the formal agenda of the meeting. Recording activity should be respectful to the conduct of the meeting and behavious that disrupts the meeting (such as oral commentary) will not be permitted.  Any member of the public shall not speak for more than five minutes.  A question asked by a member of the public during Public Participation shall not require a response or debate during the meeting though the Chairman may direct that a written response will be provided subsequent to the meeting.

There are currently 14 Elected Councillors (Burstock Ward vacant) – Click HERE to identify them.


The contents of this post are compiled by Wendy Shields, with information taken from the Broadwindsor Group Parish Council’s website.
Download the full agenda HERE.

#Broadwindsor,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Drimpton,#Dorset,#BWGPC,#BGPCLT,#FMRTrust,#SchemeOfDelegation,#SocialDistancing,#Community,#DorsetPolice,#Farmers,#PlanningApplication,#ParishCouncil,#BusBackBetter,#Coronavirus,#PalmersBrewery,#CommunityPub,#Bees,#ClimateChange,#AffordableHousing,#ComradesHall,#VillageHall,#Highways,#BeSafe,#StaySafe

6/6A Bus Timetable Now Gets Yeovil Students Home

Parish Councillor, Jacqui Sewell has continued to campaign and lobby for rural transport ever since she was an elected West Dorset Council member and was WDDC’s representative on WATAG (West Dorset Western Area Transport Action Group).
Today, still with WATAG, she was pleased to see that, at last – “the No. 6A bus WILL pick up the students from Yeovil College at 16.45pm for homeward travel to Broadwindsor – now to get Dorset Council to get Rural Access to Public Transport.”
Children from Broadwindsor will still have to travel to Beaminster in the morning.

The bus is being operated by Somerset Council. The timetable shown below.

The Dorset Council Cabinet member with responsibility for transport is East Dorset Councillor, Ray Bryan who is Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment. His contact details are:

Aristotle

Download the full timetable pdf document HERE.

#Broadwindsor,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Drimpton,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Dorset,#WestDorset,#Somerset,#Beaminster,#Dorset,#BusService,#Survey,#BusBackBetter,#Bridport,#Yeovil,#BusTimetable,#BeSafe,#StaySafe

Buses – Closing Date 15th August

Only one week remains to submit your comments to ensure Dorset Council provide Rural Areas with a bus service.

Read/download the West Dorset Western Area Transport Action Group (WATAG) newsletter HERE

Please complete the survey by clicking HERE to help to shape the future vision and priorities for the bus network in Dorset.

Comments, suggestions, and ideas can also be emailed to busbackbetter@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk.

#Broadwindsor,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Drimpton,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Dorset,#WestDorset,#Beaminster,#Dorset,#BusService,#Survey,#BusBackBetter,#Bridport,#Yeovil,#SocialDistancing,#WearYourMask,#StaySafe

Bus Back Better

Dorset Council would like to know how they can improve local bus services and what would make you use local buses more. They would like to hear from both people who already use buses, and from those who currently do not and why. They also want to hear from public, private and voluntary organisations who have an interest in making our bus services work better.

Please complete the survey by clicking HERE to help to shape the future vision and priorities for the bus network in Dorset.

Comments, suggestions, and ideas can also be emailed to busbackbetter@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk.

The Bus Service Improvement Plan will be published by 31st October. It will be further developed and updated annually.

#Broadwindsor,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Drimpton,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Dorset,#WestDorset,#Beaminster,#Dorset,#BusService,#Survey,#BusBackBetter,#Bridport,#Yeovil,#SocialDistancing,#WearYourMask,#StaySafe

Councillor Simon Christopher’s Report – July 2021

Cllr. Simon Christopher submitted the following report at this evening’s Informal Meeting of the Group Parish Council:

Dear Helen and Councillors,

It is good to see so much physical activity in keeping our local village halls up together and meeting the aspirations of residents both in terms of their actual use, but also their environmental impact. There was much discussion of what was termed the big society a decade or so ago and evidence of collaboration is very much in my mind in terms of not just community shops, but also possible community run pubs and existing community sports clubs in the Dorset Council Marshwood Vale Ward.
Dorset Council has continued to have virtual meetings. The most recent meeting of the Cabinet was on 22 June 2021 as social distancing requirements were not lifted on 21 June 2021.

Members were advised that where a Cabinet decision was required the appropriate Portfolio holder would be the responsible individual to make the decision whilst considering the views expressed by the wider Cabinet membership 

 You will be aware that the 2 main budgets in Dorset Council are in respect of care for Adults and Care of Children. There are also huge challenges around mental health generally and in respect of learning difficulties .

One report that was considered was the Dorset Care, Support Housing and Community Safety Framework.  Against a backdrop of an ageing population The Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care and Health Laura Miller, advised that the Council Sought to provide high quality personalised care and support services meeting the needs of service users whilst ensuring that they are delivered and financed in a sustainable way. The current Dorset Care Framework for Older People expires on 30 November 2022 and the Dorset Care Framework for Learning Disabilities needs to be refreshed to include mental health.

Procurement is governed by the Public Contract Regulations 2015 which allows Public Sector Bodies such as Dorset Council in terms of health and social care to adopt /innovate procurement models to best meet the needs of service users.

The framework will be in place for up to 10 years and will enable providers to join at any time (provided clearly that specific criteria is met) instead of fixed opening periods.

The proposed new Framework tool is the key to delivering flexible contracting with all sectors of the provider market including ( and I believe this is absolutely crucial) micro enterprises.

It is fair to say that Dorset Council continues to be under pressure both in terms of dealing with an increase in the number of planning applications and has been attempting to deal with an increase in the level of land charges searches. Across Dorset we are seeing changes in rural property ownership and re-evaluation of business models within the rural community, (which I will write more about later), but often these changes involve the need for planning applications.

With respect to Bus Back Better which was first publicised by H M Government in March 2021, I would like to reiterate that the Dorset Council bus service improvement plan will be published in Autumn 2021.

Councillor Ray Bryan, portfolio holder for Highways Tavel and Environment ,has been working on the Dorset Council Bus Service Improvement Plan.

He is quoted as saying “In response to the Government’s new National Bus Strategy which aims to make bus services more attractive, cheaper, easier to use, Faster, more reliable and greener.
The plan, is the so called Bus Service Improvement (ie: BSIP  Plan)

As a recap a plan will be a collaboration with local bus operators, community groups, and with passengers themselves.

The Council has reviewed the operations that Dorset has through the National Bus Strategy.

Their preferred approach is to develop an Enhanced Partnership for the council area.

An Enhanced Partnership is an agreement between the council and local bus operators to work together to improve local bus services. It requires an agreed vision of improvements and an action plan that will form the Bus Service Improvement Plan”

The plan will involve 5 key aspects:

  • Network and services
  • Fares
  • Ticketing
  • Passenger facilities
  • Bus priority measures

Councillor Bryan has further said that
“By working in close collaboration with the operators and local groups we will develop and deliver an ambitious Bus Service Improvement Plan for Dorset that puts the passenger first, raises further the perception of bus travel, generates mode shift away from private cars, and sees decarbonisation of the local transport fleet.

As a point of record the official notice is as follows
“By executive notice dated 29 June 2021 Dorset Council gave approval to proceed with the Development of and Enhancednotice of the intention to prepare an Enhanced Partnership Plan and accompanying Enhanced Partnership Scheme,as required and set out in section 138F of the Transport Act 2000.

As part of the process to develop the BSIP, the Council will be talking with community groups ,business groups passengers and the public to collect a wide range of thoughts and ideas which will help to shape the future vision and priorities for our bus network. The BSIP will be published in the Autumn”

I make no apology for stressing the importance of the Bus Service Improvement Plan that will be published in Autumn 2021 but the importance of public transport generally to include improvements to rail services and stations.

Several parish councillors are aware that I have continued to lobby Councillor Ray Bryan (mentioned above)  and the lead member for Highway Surfaces Councillor, Cherry Brooks to address the need for extensive parts of our local road network to be re surfaced. There are assurances that further resurfacing , and I refer in particular to the B3165  will take place this autumn.

We are of course in the middle of the most intensive part of the farming year.

While there are many who like seeing so much agricultural machinery working in the fields the fact that the machinery has to travel on our roads causes concern to some residents who write to me in connection with damaged roads, drains and verges. Of course, some damage may for instance be caused by say buses and lorries .

I would naturally be interested to hear the further thoughts of parish councillors and residents. I say this as I have within the Marshwood Vale Ward experience receipt of communication citing oversized agricultural machinery. In my experience agricultural machinery does not appear to be any larger than that you would see across the West Country.

I am writing this as we anticipate further easing of Covid restrictions and at a time when Covid cases are rising again across Dorset.
As of 9 July 2021, hospitalisations have been increasing with there being 14 people in hospital with Covid 19 in Dorset . The vaccine programme is however assessed as having a significant impact on the number of people being seriously unwell. That is the number of people requiring hospital treatment is at a much lower level compared to when Dorset was experiencing similar case rates in previous waves.

There are several walk-in vaccine clinics taking place across Dorset as residents are encouraged to grab a jab as it is termed prior to likely further easing of Covid 19 restrictions under step 4 of HM Government roadmap.

In summary the most recent data, to 9 July 2021 is as follows:

7 day cases per 100,000.
Dorset 96.4 compared to 69.2 per previous week.
The equivalent figure for Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole was 236.8 per 100.000 compared to 147.7per previous week.

I thought I would now turn to the question of the management of Dorset Council Owned Tree Policy . It is my understanding that Dorset Council is responsible for approximately 250,000 trees . The responsible Portfolio holder stated that town and parish councils were continually consulted and also confirmed that he was working closely with the County Farms in respect of tree replacement.

This now leads to the portfolio holder being quoted as stating that it was important to plant the right tree in the right place. This may seem an obvious comment but never more relevant.

I write this as it is a HM Government target to plant 30,000 hectares a year by 2025 this is under the DEFRA  England Trees Action Plan  2021-2024.  As part of the plan ,it was announced that the Forestry Commission would launch a new England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO),
There is much discussion of carbon sequestration biodiversity and timber production. And which tree species and location to assist in a fight to prevent soil erosion.

We are now seeing tickets being sold for some local agricultural shows eg: Honition at the start of August and Gillingham and Shaftesbury in the 3rd week of August . Both shows are unusually going to operate as 2 day shows due to ongoing concerns and capacity numbers appear somewhat uncertain Dorset County show in Dorchester and Melplash are both Cancelled.

These events are hugely important as are the functioning of livestock dispersal sales such as the one taking place at Frome market tomorrow (12 July ) in respect of a herd of organic dairy cows as farming is seen to operate in a manner closer to normality and a time when there is so much stress in the farming community . This stress includes the high incidence of TB in cattle and increasing testing requirements and cuts in Basic Payment ie support payments. Income is being lost in the the reduction in the Basic Payment Scheme which is being phased out Payment rates for the new sustainable farming incentive have now been set out by Defra Secretary George Eustace . This will have an impact naturally on farmers in the Marshwood Vale ward and indeed for farmers on the Dorset Council Farms Estate . Many of you will be aware that HM Government are encouraging farmers to move towards what is termed sustainable farming but also encouraging farmers to collaborate be more efficient and diversify.

In fact, with enhanced capital allowances for businesses in assisting with their tax it can be argued that HMG is being very generous in encouraging all rural business to be more efficient but increased efficiency and indeed diversification is not without broadband challenges……

Finally, within the Marshwood Vale Ward I have received notice of difficulties in respect of private drainage. You will be aware that not all of the extensive Marshwood Vale Ward is on mains drainage. The specific difficulties involve soakaways and I would welcome your thoughts by e mail as to  the extent to which private drainage is a problem for individual householders and their neighbours and the wider community.

Best regards

Simon
Councillor Simon Christopher
Dorset Councillor Marshwood Vale
077988 33715

Scroll#Broadwindsor,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Drimpton,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Dorset,#Village,#BWGPC,#SimonChristopher,#DorsetCouncil,#MarshwoodVale,#EWCO,#NSA,#BusServiceImprovementPlan,#DEFRA,#Covid19,#BusBackBetter,#2021,#WearYourMask,#BeSafe,#StaySafe

 

Broadwindsor Parish Group Council – Informal Online Meeting – Monday, 12 July 2021

The Broadwindsor Parish Group Council have published their agenda for their meeting on Monday evening. As the meeting is informal, any opinions expressed by the Council will seek approval through the Scheme of Delegation* after the meeting.

The full agenda is available to download HERE.  Minutes of previous Group Parish Council meetings can be found online HERE.

The meeting will be held using the Zoom platform and all are welcome to attend.

The meeting can be accessed HERE.
The Meeting ID: 897 5277 5290
Zoom is Free! – Sign Up and get it HERE.

*Local authority decisions are made by elected members but for the Council to be able to function on a day to day basis the law enables the various executive and non-executive functions to be delegated to Officers. It is called the Scheme of Delegation.

First to be addressed in their correspondances is a Notice of Application for a Definitive Map Modification Order, Dorset Council. The effect of the application, if successful, will be to alter Dorset Council’s record of public rights of way by adding a Byway Open to All Traffic along Common Water Lane from the end of the public road in Broadwindsor near Providence Farm to the public road, east of the tunnel in the Beaminster Parish.

The investigation into this application has not yet begun but in the meantime parishioners if they so wish, can submit any relevant evidence which will be included in the Council’s report. Evidence can be submitted to the Clerk or sent directly to Dorset Council.

Included this month are 2 Planning Applications have been Received and Circulated for Consultation:

  • P/HOU/2021/01969, 6 Netherhay Lane, Drimpton, DT8 3RL
  • P/HOU/2021/01463, Wood Farm Wood Lane, Kittwhistle, DT8 3LG

Broadwindsor’s Community Pub Proposal is item 10 on their agenda.

Item 12 addresses the BUS BACK BETTER scheme: A long-term strategy for buses in England.

The HIGHWAYS address the following:

a. Report from the Footpaths Officer
b. Verge Management in the Grouped Parish Area
c. Common Water Lane Update
d. Dog Fouling
e. B3164 RiskAssessment

Bumble Bee on flowerBees on the allotments?
A tenant’s request to put a beehive on his plot will be addressed at item 15.

After public participation and the date of the next council meeting is decided, the FMR Trust will convene:

a. To receive the Finance Report (Balance £4,357.27as of 5 July 2021)
b. To approve payment of £235.00 for Broadwindsor Group Parish Council (Trust Administration)
c. To consider grant of £750.00for Drimpton Hall & Recreational Ground (LED Floodlights)
d. To consider grant of £369.41for 1st Broadwindsor Rainbows/Guides & West Dorset Rangers (Outdoor Shelter)
e. To note payment of £711.75 for Broadwindsor Group Parish Council (MUGA Loan Repayment)

The meeting will then close.

The press and public are invited to attend.  Under the Openess of Local Government Bodies Regulations 2014, members of the public may now film, photograph and make audio recordings of the proceedings of the formal Council meeting, though not, under current legislation, of the Public Participation session, as this is not part of the formal agenda of the meeting. Recording activity should be respectful to the conduct of the meeting and behavious that disrupts the meeting (such as oral commentary) will not be permitted.  Any member of the public shall not speak for more than five minutes.  A question asked by a member of the public during Public Participation shall not require a response or debate during the meeting though the Chairman may direct that a written response will be provided subsequent to the meeting.

There are currently 14 Elected Councillors (Burstock Ward vacant) – Click HERE to identify them.


The contents of this post are compiled by Wendy Shields, with information taken from the Broadwindsor Group Parish Council’s website.
Download the full agenda HERE.

#Broadwindsor,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Drimpton,#Dorset,#BWGPC,#BGPCLT,#FMRTrust,#SchemeOfDelegation,#SocialDistancing,#Community,#DorsetPolice,#Farmers,#PlanningApplication,#ParishCouncil,#BusBackBetter,#Coronavirus,#PalmersBrewery,#CommunityPub,#Bees,#ClimateChange,#Zoom,#AffordableHousing,#ComradesHall,#VillageHall,#Highways,#NationalLockdown,#BeSafe,#StaySafe